[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6243445,"mediaKeyId","3238793-5201cd8540e13f363be4669f524c15a3","parentId",3238793,"title","Greenfield staff tells homeowners they are responsible for residential sidewalk repairs; city offers limited assistance and annual grinding program","audioSeconds",1250,"startMs",1670000,"endMs",2920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238793-5201cd8540e13f363be4669f524c15a3&start=1670&end=2920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238793-5201cd8540e13f363be4669f524c15a3/thumbnail_1670000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6243445/Greenfield-City/Monterey-County/California/Greenfield-staff-tells-homeowners-they-are-responsible-for-residential-sidewalk-repairs-city-offers-limited-assistance-and-annual-grinding-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243445-56f4c2d6816f2a96e1b22a5a9bae662b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170595&Signature=LKUqav8rnNv6d094Xe30q5SFIs6txdxlxUJry9l0JC7Gh~ugC~ZRsGA6zs2CMBILwk6kmUrYuw9wqa3-iFfpJDQDM7a2~65-IUSnYNgpH61Iistolr~O-UqeQIhqlayWHPR2cTkbXgaWdE0AL9eertWxQOmURBC7SwUARLqZwjzRo7KtcIqdRubq4lgm6JrhX6moUqupaFeBJSviSlkLAdJg6EgLtzNqq-GVYXFgAY2m8Q57A8qSgq4OjultyNoFiNJ9fVDgzfpZGXZ9jgbeKhnD54U~VHWh1OM0~JCdGjNRggfA6gj9QPFIiRQA7E~oU4FgePUFykqpHralxbTrVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Greenfield CA","date","2025-05-08T17:43:46Z","article","City of Greenfield staff told the City Council on April 20 that, unless an area is inside a street and storm drain maintenance assessment district, the property owner is legally responsible for maintaining sidewalks fronting their property.

The city presentation explained why the council was being asked to consider outreach and possible enforcement. \"In short, it actually means that property owners are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the sidewalks fronting their property,\" the staff presenter said, citing the state standard that the city follows.

The presentation traced current practice: sidewalks in special assessment districts are repaired through the district contract paid by assessed property taxes; all other residential sidewalks default to California Streets and Highways Code section 5610, which places maintenance responsibility on abutting property owners. Staff described the city's tree-and-sidewalk maintenance program, which places interested homeowners on a waiting list after they submit paperwork and pay a $100 participation fee; the city will cover additional cost only as funding and staffing permit. For small trip hazards, staff said the city receives $10,000 annually from its insurance pool for grinding and typically adds $4,000'$6,000 from local funds to increase work.

Council members and residents asked how the programs operate in practice. Staff said homeowners are allowed to contract for and perform their own repairs but must obtain an encroachment permit and use a licensed, insured contractor so the work meets city standards. Staff also said the city conducts routine inspections, receives contractor reports in assessment districts, and will respond to hazard calls; however, the city does not have a certified arborist on staff and relies on contractors for larger tree work.

Questions from council and residents focused on cost and enforcement. Staff acknowledged that full sidewalk replacement can cost thousands of dollars and that the city could pursue a formal enforcement program if the council directed it, but said enforcement requires substantial staff time and legal involvement. Staff noted the city uses a 2017 sidewalk and curb ramp inspection survey to prioritize work and that the insurance-funded grinding is limited to modest uplifts (typically a quarter-inch threshold is used in practice; up to one-half inch is sometimes addressed depending on contractor pricing and program capacity).

The council asked staff to post the program materials publicly and to circulate the presentation to council and constituents. Staff said the tree-and-sidewalk forms are completed at City Hall and are not yet digitized. Council members and residents also discussed the contractor'provided maintenance in assessment districts and urged clearer public information so homeowners understand their responsibilities.

The presentation closed with staff offering to provide the council the survey and a proposed outreach plan; council members requested materials for public distribution and additional data on program backlogs and costs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 22, 2025 - City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City of Greenfield staff told the City Council on April 20 that, unless an area is inside a street and storm drain maintenance assessment district, the property owner is legally responsible for maintaining sidewalks fronting their property.","taxTitle","Greenfield City, Monterey County, California","taxId",71906,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6243433,"Greenfield resident asks council to correct minutes, restore presentation slot for local tech lab",213,430000,643000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238793-5201cd8540e13f363be4669f524c15a3&start=430&end=643","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238793-5201cd8540e13f363be4669f524c15a3/thumbnail_430000.jpg","/articles/6243433/Greenfield-City/Monterey-County/California/Greenfield-resident-asks-council-to-correct-minutes-restore-presentation-slot-for-local-tech-lab","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243433-5e736f6d737d594eb6d53274311cff2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170595&Signature=hT~EJYLItf0U-Vx8Tb7NFEEszeVe3U9ZXBNQYvQSfhBV4lrK8zofJrKAF5akKkYlaJuFPoLfkeg7iLcUDbB8j8OlUFk4mBYEjj3QviqjDljHXrVBoIc8YMqyMduX5pISsz5kJv7JLD1zkODNqAsqb8JAyE-xJR4HQkNflB-mfZajw-gIYw8X-XoA~ARLBl6VHm91OugcZ-TyKPBBEcef8NDFSR14hmL8Y~uY5bPXdzFy9i3L-mI9VCT-SUaYPFFHpi4PYrRTBlMdOeDIvyDp4tewfZcHFLOu9G7NAY0jq0KY42QxFMKOge6RBwVfraaCN36b0qLhrWlokACHeoGx0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","David Orta, a longtime Greenfield resident and community organizer, used the public comment period on April 20 to say his volunteer-run Aklu arts and science lab was invited to present to the council but was later told the item would not be heard.

Orta said the lab provides free access to VR, 3-D printing and digital education for adult learners and operates without city funding. He told the council the minutes of a prior meeting do not match the video record: \"On April 8, during this council's public meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez formally requested that we be invited to present. But according to the Facebook live recording, it seems she clearly made that request to the council and not the staff, and no council member seemed to object to the request. But what was recorded in the official minutes is not what was said,\" Orta said.

Orta said the group experienced a week of silence from city staff and received a message less than 24 hours before the April 20 meeting that the item would not be heard; he asked the council to \"correct the public record\" and to allow the lab to present as requested. He also said volunteers had been referred to the community center as \"our house\" by a staff member, language he said suggested volunteers were treated as guests rather than public stakeholders offering a research-backed service. \"We're not here in anger. We're here with hope... We respectfully ask that our work be recognized and the public record be corrected and that we'd be given the fair opportunity to present our lab and our vision just as the council requested,\" Orta said.

Mayor White interrupted to keep the public comment within time limits but did not dispute the factual claims during the meeting. Council did not take formal action at the meeting to correct minutes or re-schedule a presentation; staff acknowledged the message relaying the cancellation but did not provide an explanation during the public comment period. Orta said he would like the minutes corrected and for staff to provide a clear explanation and reschedule.

During the meeting other public commenters provided resources and local updates, including distribution of \"know your rights\" materials for undocumented family members and community announcements; those items were separate from Orta's request about the lab.","A longtime Greenfield resident and community organizer, David Orta, told the City Council he and volunteers run a free community tech lab and said they were promised a presentation slot that did not occur; he asked the council to correct the public record and give his group an opportunity to present.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6243438,"Greenfield adopts updated accessory dwelling unit ordinance to align with state requirements; staff to submit draft to HCD",324,2922000,3246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238793-5201cd8540e13f363be4669f524c15a3&start=2922&end=3246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238793-5201cd8540e13f363be4669f524c15a3/thumbnail_2922000.jpg","/articles/6243438/Greenfield-City/Monterey-County/California/Greenfield-adopts-updated-accessory-dwelling-unit-ordinance-to-align-with-state-requirements-staff-to-submit-draft-to-HCD","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243438-eaa4db99c2e2af7735cdb154f0a4c0f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170595&Signature=UVKXZ7npMsaOn58z7iEUfhvDDnFT6U1qCDMbYQYduXOjDphqgGxveQGPgqAiO4VqXZ~2YmraokaZaJ4tq1aFSGiM1XRwjhDVcT6TXXvOb-JN2p5lvgMdqlCUAXyQCK6Nc9cFiWB70LTcRxJs~S2M8Xfr6~s9T3UARDj9o8YDeo-Y8dd7q9L72BECRTtRVPsodPaRMXXgrfpoxNxWUiPOzpnMXvGtcyDCp0csbYG6E0HlNjiZwpNgQxkdUc-ln0VQ2goo5pvCb6y7vn~sBsF-YCuzI2O6ZeIh5TWmlqLfytdX11zbp4JS-cPEtBSmA~YUWUkjwLnNS-O101mOR46YVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Greenfield City Council on April 20 adopted Ordinance No. 573, repealing Chapter 17.9 of the Greenfield Municipal Code and replacing it with a revised accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance that incorporates state-required modifications.

A staff member explained the changes and said the city made clarifications in response to a letter from the California Housing Defense Fund. \"The next step is that we would send this ordinance draft to HCD. They don't have to approve it, but they have to receive it and provide comments,\" the staff member said, describing the submission and comment process. Staff also said the ordinance is intended to be clearer for applicants and that state law controls where there is any conflict.

Council members had no further questions during the meeting. The motion to adopt the ordinance was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. The ordinance will be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review; staff said it will go into effect after the statutory review window (staff said that HCD will provide comments and the ordinance will take effect in 30 days after applicable steps are completed).

Staff told the council the main revision requested by the California Housing Defense Fund was to more explicitly describe the four categories of ADUs that state law treats as ministerially approvable when they meet objective standards; the city left its setback standards unchanged because staff said those standards are defined quantitatively in the zoning ordinance. The staff report and a redline of the ordinance were included in the council packet for reference.

No public commenters spoke on the ordinance at the meeting. The council's action replaces the prior local ADU chapter with language the city says aligns with state ADU law and will be filed with HCD for the required review.","The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 573 on second reading, replacing Chapter 17.9 of the Greenfield Municipal Code to reflect state ADU provisions; staff said the draft will be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development for comment and will take effect after the state review period.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Greenfield staff tells homeowners they are responsible for residential sidewalk repairs; city offers limited assistance and annual grinding program

Greenfield resident asks council to correct minutes, restore presentation slot for local tech lab

Greenfield adopts updated accessory dwelling unit ordinance to align with state requirements; staff to submit draft to HCD